Freak show or needle mover: was Fury-Ngannou good for boxing? Premium

The bout between the WBC heavyweight champion and a decorated MMA fighter was dismissed by purists. But the contest forced many detractors to take notice, opened the door for more such crossover fights in the future and raised questions about the prevalent quality in the division

Former WBA featherweight champion Barry McGuigan, like many boxing purists, turned his nose up at the prospect of a bout between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou.

McGuigan believed that fights of this kind were akin to circus freak shows. This was not legitimate boxing. Ngannou, after all, was a former UFC mixed martial arts heavyweight champion with no boxing experience. The fight, billed as the ‘Battle of the Baddest’, saw Ngannou wearing boxing gloves for the very first time.

Fury, on the other hand, was an established fighter, in possession of the WBC heavyweight title. Fans were desperate to watch Fury fight men of his own size and stature — such as unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk or British rival Anthony Joshua. By agreeing to get in the ring with a debutant, there was an overriding feeling that Fury was taking the easy way out.

Ngannou, at best, was expected to land a few lucky punches. There was no way he could last the distance against his accomplished opponent.

The fight, however, followed a shocking script. So much so that McGuigan took to social media to engage in a discussion on the outcome of the fight. The once dismissive McGuigan was forced to take notice.

Against all odds, Ngannou more than held his own. In the third round, Ngannou landed a left hook to drop Fury to the canvas. He danced over the fallen Fury — a response to Fury’s taunt earlier that night. “When we touched gloves, Fury said ‘Let me take you to school’. That’s why I danced over him when I knocked him down. You are a bad professor!” Ngannou explained.

Ngannou grew in confidence, and even attempted a ‘Superman’ punch — flying in with a powerful right with both feet off the ground. A retreating Fury did well to last the full ten rounds.